It’s a new year and a new region for Sedona Red Rock High School volleyball. The Sedona Red Rock High School Scorpions’ 2024 volleyball season will start at home on Wednesday, Aug. 28, at 6 p.m. against the Mayer Wildcats. 

“Sierra Williams and Amy Brefeld, they’re my captains, and they’ve been playing since fifth grade,” coach John Parks said. “They have the right attitude. They are top-notch students. They always come to practice. They always work hard. They’re always great to younger girls. Always trying to help out, and it’s what you want in every single player and it’s what you want in captains.” 

“I am very hopeful and I think we have a better chance this year,” Brefeld said, adding that the team has adjusted its strategy because senior Emily Frey will be out with an ACL injury sustained during club play during the spring. “We can come out stronger this year. Last year was more of a formative year for us … We didn’t win a lot last year, and I’m hoping to turn that around this year.” 

“Some of the challenges for this year are getting down during a game if we mess up and not letting the mistake go, or just nobody acting like a team,” Williams said. “But I feel like we’ll do good this year.” 

This season, SRRHS will move from the 2A Metro division to the 2A Central division and will be competing against: BASIS Phoenix, Camp Verde, Fountain Hills, Madison Highland , Phoenix Christian, Rancho Solano Prep, Scottsdale Christian and Scottsdale Prep. 

“We were in the most competitive region last year,” Parks said. “I think this one’s even more competitive than that … . I think the biggest challenges we face are mostly about rural versus metro. When you are a rural school, programs outside the school are not easy to come by [as opposed to] when you live in the metro Phoenix area.” 

Parks added that last year’s team “had the toughest schedule in the 2A,” and that he felt the team remained competitive with an overall 5-10 record. The volleyball team only had three freshman volunteer for the program this season; Parks said that that number is typically 10 to 12. 

A dozen players are currently on the junior varsity team. Parks noted that his overall team size slightly dropped from 28 players last year. He picked up several soccer players looking for a new sport after the 2023 girls soccer season was canceled because not enough players committed. The 2024 girls soccer season also suffered the same fate for the same reason.

Parks predicted defense and passing would be critical because the team’s players are not very tall. Parks said there will be no major changes to the team’s strategy for 2024. “We’re just going to put our best team out there, and try to play as much tough defense as we can.”

“When you play some of these teams with some girls, it’s hard, and you don’t have [the ability to] be able to block them, and that’s a challenge,” Parks said. “We’ll block the best we can block. But when we have those challenges, we’ll have to do a better job of reading the hitter.” 

“We’re going to have a hard time blocking, which means that back rows has to be able to pass the ball to keep rallies alive,” Parks continued. “We have to wear teams out.” 

“I’m just hoping for a good season team chemistry-wise, that everything runs smoothly and that we can really get into a good rhythm for this year,” Brefeld said. 

“Because of the kids,” Parks said when asked why residents should attend Scorpion home games. “The kids work hard, they play hard, they have a great attitude, and so anytime you have a team like that, makes it a joy to watch.”